Ernie Els in best shape in years for a major challenge at The OpenErnie Els waves to the crowd as he walks up the 18th hole during the first round at The Open, where he carded a 68 to sit three shots off the lead. Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment3:43 PM ETLeo SpallUK Correspondent Close• Formerly ESPN.co.uk deputy editor
• Worked with ESPN since 2014
• Reported and edited for newspapers including the Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Independent
• Follow him on Twitter @LeoSpallESPN
FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England – Ernie Els is too long in the tooth to get carried away after the first round of an Open Championship but he says he's feeling better than he has at this major in years.
The 47-year-old has missed two Open cuts since he won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2012, and his best finish since was T25 four years ago.
Els' 2-under 68 on Thursday put him three shots behind first-round le..

Spieth dissects Royal Birkdale to grab share of Open leadplayDay, Johnson, McIlroy all still in the mix (1:34)Favorites Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy are multiple shots back after one round at The Open, but Tony Kornheiser says they are still in striking distance. (1:34)
FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment6:14 PM ETKevin Van ValkenburgESPN Senior Writer CloseSenior Writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine
Born and raised in Western Montana
Spent 11 years as a feature writer for The Baltimore SunFollow on TwitterFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Anyone who has watched Jordan Spieth closely the past five years likely understands how obsessive he is about maintaining routines. He tries to hit the same number of balls in warm-ups before each round. He's used the same putter since he was 15 years old. His meticulous pre-shot routine almost never varies, even when he's criticized for slowing down play. He is a m..

Patience pays off for Jason Day at Royal BirkdaleJason Day went out in even-par 34 on Royal Birkdale's front nine. He came home in 1-under-par 35 to shoot 69 in Round 1 of the 146th Open. Andy Buchanan/AFP PhotoFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment2:30 PM ETMatt CooperSpecial to ESPN.com CloseMatt Cooper is a golf writer from the United Kingdom who has worked for SkySports.com and SportingLife.com. He is a writer for Golf365.com and a number of print magazines.FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — The grinding is beginning to pay dividends for Jason Day. Prior to his first round at the 146th Open Championship, the 29-year-old insisted that if he maintained discipline and patience, the results would unfold at their own pace.
And around the turn on Thursday, that is just what happened.
“You know what? Midway through my round I just felt great,” he said, after posting an opening lap of 1-under-par 69, four shot back of the lead share..